donating blood

Also, donor health and comfort is very important to clinic staff. ALWAYS speak up if you feel uncomfortable or “strange.”

My friend Rita faints whenever she gets stuck or sticks herself with a needle (sewing). The way this has been overcome for both blood tests is by using the same setup used for blood donations: she’s on a stretcher. She is not donating any more due to age, but donated for twenty years. Medical personnel were uncomfortable with having a woman come up and say “I’d like to donate, but I faint”, but eventually and after some poking and prodding they decided it was “normal for her” and didn’t seem to have any reflection on her blood’s acceptability; still, sometimes she’d be sent back home, depending on who was in that day (small town, people had their own theories about medical procedures).

If you live in the Kentucky/ Southern Indiana area, come to one of my blood drives. I will take good care of you.

I cannot comment on platelet apheresis, but I can comment on plasma. I work in a plasma collection centre. We do not collect whole blood or platelets where I work.

We use the PCS-2 machines from Haemonetics. On average 500mls of plasma take around 25 minutes to donate. I have not had a donor reaction to the citrate at all since I have been working there (and I would be aware of them, reaction reports all cross my desk). The citrate amount entering the plasma is generally less than 50 mls, and I think a lot less than that actually enters the donor’s blood stream. If a donor reacted like congodwarf, they would probably have a permanent deferral. Hey two faints in a row and you are out too. Or a false positive for Hepatitis, despite several repeat tests showing negative.

If you are nervous, I think whole blood is the way to go, because it is the fastest donation, and less chance for restlessness and anxiety. On the other hand if you are worried about anemia, or losing your red cells I would recommend platelet or plasma apheresis, it takes longer, but you don’t lose the oxygen carrying capacity of your own red cells. Plasma donors can donate every 6 days in Canada, platelets every14. Whole blood is 56 days.
As for anxiety, if you can’t get past it, don’t donate. The staff doesn’t like faints. Just remember, a needle is going to hurt… for a second. Once it’s in you barely feel it, and you then have a dedicated amount of time to watch tv, or read a magazine, (Lots of our regular donors have Kindles or similar) We have heaps of magazines at our centre, everything from Sports Illustrated to History. An ipod or something else will help to, but a lot of our regulars come for conversation and chat with staff and each other.

Whatever you can do, seriously consider it this season.

I’ve donated about a gallon of blood over the last 20 years. I’ve never had a problem donating, though I have some times where I do get a little phobic over the needle.

First, a couple days beforehand, start drinking a lot of water. The more hydrated you are, the faster and easier the donation goes. Second, bring a friend and ask if they can sit beside you or donate alongside you. Company makes things go better. Third, tell the phlebotomist that you’re a bit needle-phobic. Believe me, they’ve dealt with it before. Fourth, see if they can use a butterfly needle on you. It’s a smaller gauge, which makes the poke less painful. It also has a plastic flange on it (hence, butterfly) that gives the phlebotomist much more fine muscle control over it, and in the hands of a skilled person, it can be (and has for me once) been completely painless.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for their most experienced technician. The difference between someone who’s been drawing blood for a year and someone who’s been drawing blood for 10 years is immense. No one will be offended by your request.

And thank you. Your donation really will save lives.